The ride back to the orphanage was painfully silent. The air felt heavier than before, thick with unasked questions and emotions neither of them knew how to voice. Zara stared out the window, lost in her thoughts, while Adrian kept his eyes on the road, his jaw set, equally distant. Everything suddenly felt strange… unfamiliar.
When they finally arrived, Zara quietly stepped out of the car and gently lifted a sleepy Lilly into her arms. As she turned to leave, Adrian’s voice broke the silence.
“Zara… I’m sorry if I was too hard on you,” he said softly.
She paused, unsure of what to say, her heart still tangled in confusion. After a moment, she simply nodded. No words came only a silent acknowledgment, before she turned and walked toward the orphanage doors, the night swallowing the rest
